How to Choose the Best Photographer for Your Corporate Headshots
Corporate headshots are most often created on-location, specifically for company team members, and are usually displayed on the corporate website. These images are also used by employees on LinkedIn, in marketing materials, and press releases. But, choosing the right photographer can often be a very daunting task. The photographer you pick should not only produce great images but also make sure that the process is enjoyable and stress-free in the end. And it’s sometimes very difficult to know how exactly to go about this selection process.
In this Blog article, I’ll go over how to prepare for your headshot photographer search, how to narrow down the selection, and how to pick the best photographer for the job so you have a great headshot day and don’t regret your decision afterwards.
Determine Your Needs and Goals
Before you even start your search for a headshot photographer, you need to sit down and figure out your specific needs and goals for the session.
Identify the Purpose
Why does the company need new headshots? Where will these images be displayed (company website, marketing materials, etc)? Are they an update for a few new employees or a complete overhaul for everyone? Knowing what you need will help you figure out the style of images that would be a good fit. It’s also a good idea to look around at your competitors to see what types of headshots they’re using for their team members. You’ll want yours to be slightly different and to stand out - whether that’s because of the higher quality of headshots or a different/more unique background color.
Set a Budget
This is also a great time to do some research regarding the budget for the headshot session. Prices for corporate headshot sessions can vary widely depending on the photographer’s experience, location, and the complexity of the shoot. Understanding the cost range and setting a realistic budget will help narrow down your options. Remember, a higher investment often correlates with better quality and service, so balance your budget with your expectations.
Research Potential Photographers
Once you’ve outlined your needs and budget, it’s time to start researching potential photographers. This step is crucial to finding someone who can deliver the style and quality you’re looking for.
Look for Specialization
Most photographers you’ll find online don’t actually specialize in corporate headshots. It’s important to find someone with at least a significant portion of their portfolio dedicated to this type of photography. Photographers who specialize in corporate headshots will have the proper lighting setup, posing knowledge, and post-processing required to create professional images that convey confidence and approachability. They will also come prepared and will often be able to foresee potential issues ahead of time.
Read Reviews and Testimonials
It’s always important to read online reviews before hiring someone for a service, and that goes for photographers as well. Check online reviews on platforms like Google, Yelp, and social media. Look for feedback on the photographer’s professionalism, communication skills, and the quality of their work. Pay attention to recurring themes in the reviews, both positive and negative, as they can give you a clearer picture of what to expect.
Evaluate Their Portfolio
A photographer’s portfolio allows you to assess their technical skills and artistic style to determine if they’re the right fit for your needs before hiring them.
Assess Technical Skills
When evaluating portfolios, pay close attention to the technical aspects of the photos. Look for well-lit, clear, and sharp images. The subject should be the focal point, with no distracting elements on their clothing or in the background. Consistent, high-quality lighting is key in corporate headshots, as it highlights the subject’s features and creates a professional look.
Check for Consistency
Ensure that the photographer’s work is consistent and that he/she produces high-quality images across different sessions. Look for a variety of shots in their portfolio to see their versatility in capturing different expressions, poses, and backgrounds. This will give you confidence that they can deliver great results regardless of your specific needs and that they are able to work with different personalities and body types.
Consider Their Personality and Approach
The photographer’s personality and approach can significantly impact your team member’s experiences during the shoot. It’s essential to find someone who is professional as well as reliable and who can run the session without much hand-holding.
Review Website and Social Media
You can get a very good sense of someone from the words they choose to post on their website and social media accounts. Do they provide relevant information? How about the tone and writing style? For something like corporate headshots you want to make sure the materials that reflect the photographer’s business are professional, informative, and clear. If you notice something that puts you off, there’s a good chance that photographer might not be a good fit.
Evaluate Communication Skills
Effective communication is crucial throughout the process and you can get a sense of how the photographer communicates by how their respond to your inquiry. The photographer should be timely in their response, clear, and professional. They should provide detailed information about what to expect before, during, and after the session. Look for someone who listens to your concerns, answers your questions, and provides clear instructions on how to prepare for the shoot. If the photographer takes days to get back to you, it can be a very clear indication of a potential delay you might experience getting your images after the session too.
Review the Logistics and Packages
Finally, review the logistics of the photoshoot and compare different packages and pricing options. This will help you find a photographer who not only meets your needs but also fits within your budget.
Understand the Process
Every photographer will set things up for the photoshoot differently. If you have specific needs (like the lighting setup absolutely needs to fit into the one conference room you have available), make sure to ask about it. Determine whether the photographer can create the look you need and has the backdrop color you want before you hire them. And ask about delivery time of the images as this is often this is where most clients are surprised to find out just how long most photographers take for the final headshots to be delivered.
Compare Packages and Pricing
Likewise, every photographer will have slightly different pricing. Compare packages and quotes carefully as a cheaper price often means you’re getting less (worse service, less care, no retouching, no guarantees, and longer timelines). That being said, it’s also important to make sure you’re not paying extra for something you don’t actually need. Compare the pricing to your budget and choose a package that offers the best value for your investment - or raise your budget if you are now realizing it was potentially too low to start with!
It’s hard to really tell whether a photographer will be 100% what you hope for before the day of the headshot session, which is why this step by step process is so important! Don’t just hire someone’s cousin who has a camera or that family photographer you liked working with. Headshots are a speciality and are worth doing correctly the first time.
And if you’d like to learn more about how I do team headshots differently and how I guarantee a great outcome each and every time, click below to see more!
